Pages

07 March 2013

Breastfeeding a Sick Baby {#BFBlogHop}

December 29, 2010. I remember this day well. It was the first day Charis was sick, and it was the day my cousin was married. We were in Northern Ireland. Charis woke up at 5:00 AM, at least 1 1/2 hours earlier than she had the previous 3 days. I brought Charis in bed so I could nurse her and we'd fall back to sleep. But that was not to be, I realized she was congested, her eyes were watery, and she had a moist cough.

Being a nurse, I knew there were no medications I could give my baby. What she needed most, was what I already had given her everyday of her life: comfort, breast milk, and love.

If your baby has a cold or is congested:

Nurse often. Babies are comforted by breastfeeding, plus breast milk has wonderful antibodies to help fight off illnesses.

Nurse as upright as possible. When Charis had her cold, I ended up having her sleep in a rocker next to the bed so her head could be slightly elevated.

If need be, clear your baby's nose prior to breastfeeding, with saline drops, breast milk, or with a nasal aspirator, such as the Nosefrida.

Run a humidifier in the bedroom. Boil a pot of water, with a few drops of essential oils {such as eucalyptus} to help relieve your baby's congestion.

I am a Christian and a wife to an amazing husband, a mum to a 2nd grader, a 3 year old son, and an unborn son. I am homeschool SAHM. I write about knitting, breastfeeding, reading, cooking, baking, crafting, cloth diapering, and babywearing.